Bite tray



July 21, 1959 R. J. JONES 2,895,219

' BITE TRAY Filed May 12 1958 INVENTOR. Fame-4L J Jazvss.

'2 ATTORNEY United States Patent BITE TRAY Russell J. Jones, Bratenahl, Ohio Application May 12, 1958, Serial No. 734,517

' Claims. (Cl. 32-19 This invention relates to a dental instrument and particularly to a new and improved bite tray for taking impressions of the bite of a patient, and is an improvement on the bite tray disclosed in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,713,202, issued July 19, 1955.

In the above identified patent, there is disclosed a bite tray in which provision is made for taking. a bite impression at either side of the mouth separately or at both sides of the mouth concurrently, but no provision is made therein for taking an impression of the bite at the front of the mouth, or concurrently at the front and either or both sides of the mouth so that a true full bite impression can be obtained.

In accordance with the present invention, the patented tray has been modified so that a full bite impression or any portion thereof, such as desired, may be obtained.

The patented tray includes a light frame and is arranged to support an extremely light gauze bib which, in turn, supports the necessary impression material in position between the upper and lower teeth at one side of the mouth. The bib is so arranged that it can be readily installed on the frame. Generally, two frames, adjustably mounted on a'common support, are provided, for takingbites at both sides of-the mouth concurrently.

The present tray is so arranged that a bib of the same size, shape, and structure as that used for the side impressions on the patented tray, can be supported and used for obtaining a front bite impression, or a plurality of bibs, of identical structure, may be supported concurrently in a manner such that a full bite of all of the teeth,.both sides and front, can be obtained.

The advantages of the present structure will be readily apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a bite tray and bib combination embodying the principles of the present invention, the tray and bib being shown with the impression material carried thereby for taking a bite impression of the front teeth;

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation of the combination illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the combination illustrated in Fig. I, viewed as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig; 4 is a top plan view of a bib of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the front of the bib illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bite tray and bib arranged to take a full bite impression of all the teeth in the mouth concurrently;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing another disposition of the impression material on the tray or bib.

Referring to the drawing, the bite tray com-prises essentially a frame indicated generally at 1, which is open at one end, as indicated at 2, so as not to interfere with ice a patients bite. The frame may comprise a pair of side frame members 3 and 4 which are spaced apart laterally from each other. The frame member 4 has one end free as indicated at 5. The frame is supported by a suitable handle 6. The handle is bent as indicated at 7 and the arms 3 and 4' are curved as indicated at 8 so that the frame can fit properly in the mouth of the patient.

In the preferred form, the frame and its handle comprise a single length of wire of the composition customarily used in orthodontics. This length of wire has a relatively long portion which provides the handle 6 and which, at one end, is connected to the frame member 3. The opposite end of the frame member 3 is connected to an intermediate connecting portion or end frame member 9 which, in turn, is connected to one end of the frame member 4, the opposite end 5 of the frame member 4 being free and spaced from the handle and frame members 3 whereby the frame is open at the end adjacent the'handle so as not to interfere with the bite. The portions of the wire forming the frame may be curved and merge into each other to provide a more rounded frame, if desired, but the elongated somewhat rectangular shape is preferred.

Ordinarily, in taking an impression of a bite, the bite of both sides of the mouth are taken concurrently and for this purpose, right hand and left hand frame and handle combinations are provided, these being identical in all respects except that they are asymmetrical.

When such a right hand and left hand frame members are used together for taking a bite of both sides of the mouth concurrently, the handles of the two members are secured in fixed adjusted relation with respect to each other. A convenient connection for connecting two such handles comprises a metal tab 10 on the left hand handle and a cooperating tab 11 on the right hand handle, the tab 11 being a single thickness of metal and the tab 10 comprising an upper portion 10a and a lower portion 10b, these being spaced apart fiatwise to accommodate the tab 11 therebetween. The tab 11 is provided with a slot 12. A bolt 13 extends through the tab 10 and is accommodated in the slot 12, and a suitable nut 14 is provided on the bolt 13 for clamping the portions 10a and 10b firmly against the tab 11. Thus, the two trays can be secured in adjusted position relative to each other. This connection affords a certain amount of relative swinging movement of the trays about the axis of the bolt 13 as well as relative transverse lineal movement of the trays into adjusted positions relative to each other.

In order to support the impression material by the frames, a bib 15 is provided for each frame.

Each bib comprises a piece of thin, soft, flexible openmesh material which may be molded or woven to provide a fabric, for example, a material approximating very light weight gauze, or mosquito netting. The material preferably is exceedingly light, woven net having a relatively large mesh in relation to the cross section of its strands and preferably is so then that it does not interfere in any manner with the movement of the wax or impression medium during the taking of a bite impression. It offers no resistance to occlusion of the teeth as the patient closes his jaws.

The bib 15 illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is supported by the frame in position to support the impression material by being connected to the side frame members and spanning the space therebetween. It is arranged to extend from one side frame member across the space therebetween around the opposite member and back toward the first side frame member. The bib 15 is of such length that a substantial margin is provided for extending back toward the original member after the bib has been folded about the opposite frame member. In

general, it is sufficiently long so that its free edge extends substantially back to its connected edge.

The bib 15 is preferably made so that it can be attached to, and detached from, the frame readily. For this purpose, it is provided at one margin with a connecting means which can receive the side member 4 free end foremost. The connecting means is preferably tubular and bendable transversely so as to adapt itself to and fit the curvilinear shape of the frame member 4. In the form illustrated, the connecting means is a separate tube 16, the tube preferably being composed of extruded synthetic resin or other thermosetting or thermoplastic moldable material. One margin of the fabric may be bonded thereto by a suitable cement or otherwise. The tube 16 terminates at one end about flush with the adjacent edge of the fabric or bib and the other end has an extension portion 17 which extends about /1 beyond the corresponding edge of the bib. This extension provides a positioning means for assuring proper installation of the bib on the frame. The tube, while bendable transversely, is sufficiently stiff so that, when held by its ends, it supports the margin of the gauze Without appreciable sagging while the gauze is supporting the impression material.

As pointed out in the patent, in using the device, the two frames are adjusted by the means of the tabs and 11 and the adjusting bolt and nut 13 and 14 so that they fit in the proper position in the mouth for taking the impression of a bite of both sides of the mouth concurrently. When secured in this position, they are removed from the mouth and each frame is provided with a bib. To install the bib, the tubular member 16 is slid onto the frame members 4 from the free end, with the extension portion 17 foremost in the direction of movement, until the end of extension 17 strikes the frame member 9 and arrests further movement. This assures spacing of the bib from the rear frame member 9 so that an open space is provided between the rear end of the bib and the frame for affording proper vision by the operator so that he can determine when the tray is in the proper position for a bite impression. With the bib so installed, it is then held across the space between the members 3 and 4 and the impression material 18 in exceedingly soft condition is applied. The free end of the bib is then folded over the frame member 3 and over the top of the paste or other material on the bib. In this condition the frame is ready for insertion in the mouth for taking the impression of the bite.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 through 6, the impression material may be any one of the waxes, plaster of Paris, quick setting plastics, or other special impression pastes and media available on the market.

If desired, additional impression material 19 may be placed on the outside of the folded bib, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

With the material thus held by the bib and frame, the impression of the bite is taken, the tray being held in the mouth in proper position until the paste or wax has set.

The tray and manner of use thus far described is more fully set forth in the above identified patent.

In order to provide for taking a front bite, or a full bite with the tray, or a combination of the bite at one side of the mouth and the front, a front supplemental frame 20 is provided. This frame member 20 is preferably a portion of a single length of relatively stiff wire bent between its ends so that one portion provides the front frame member 20 and the other a support 21. The frame member 20 has a free end 22 and its opposite end joins the supporting portion 21. The support 21 extends alongside, and is secured along its length in fixed position to, one of the handles 6 in a position such that it supports the front frame member in the general plane or surface defined by the frames 1 and extending transversely across the space between the handles 6.

The front frame member 20 is spaced forwardly from the open front ends 2 of the frames 1 so as to provide a continuous and unobstructed space from one end frame member 9 to the other end frame member 9 in a position to receive the bite of all of the teeth concurrently.

In order to support the impression material or paste, a bib, such as the bib heretofore described, is provided. Assuming that only a front impression is to be taken, the bib is installed as illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the attaching means, shown as the tube 16, is slid over the free ends of the members 4 and bridges the space between the free ends. The bib 15 then is disposed forwardly from the tube 16 across the supporting member 20 and, at its forward portion, is folded over the frame member 20 and back onto its intermediate portion.

The impression material is placed on the bib in the same manner as on the bibs 15 when arranged on the frames 1.

If any difliculty is experienced in maintaining the bib properly folded about the member 20, the free forward margin of the bib, where overlapping, may be tacked lightly to the remainder of the bib and to the member 20 by means of a small amount of impression wax, the wax preferably being confined to a Zone close to the member 20 so as not to interfere with the taking of the bite.

The member 20 thus supports the front bib at the front, and the free ends 5 and tube therebetween support the front bib at its rear.

It sometimes happens that impressions of one side of the mouth and the front are to be taken concurrently, or the entire bite is to be taken in a single impression. In such instances, the bibs are installed as illustrated in Fig. 6. As there illustrated the tube 16 of a bib for the forward part of the bite is installed on the free end portions 5 of the frame members 4, as above described, and the opposite edge of the bib is folded over the member 20. Identical bibs 15 also are installed on the frames 1, as described in the above patent, by sliding their tubes 16 onto the frame members 4, respectively, and lapping their opposite margins about the outer frame member 3, respectively. At the juncture of the front bib for the front bite and those for the side of the mouth, the bibs or the tubes 1-6 may be trimmed as desired so that they do not interfere, and so that the adjacent edges of the bibs are very close together and preferably can overlap slightly, thus enabling the bibs to support a mass of impression material which is unbroken along the entire lengths of the rows of teeth of a patient.

It is apparent from this arrangement that the bite of all the teeth, or any number of contiguous teeth may readily be obtained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a :bite tray comprising a pair of open end frames, handles on the frames, respectively, each handle being connected at one of its ends to its associated frame and extending endwise from the open end of its associated frame in a direction away from the other end of its associated frame, said handles being connected and supporting the frames in laterally spaced relation to each other edgewise of the frames, each of said frames consisting of a single length of Wire, one end portion of which provides an inner side frame member having a free forward end, an intermediate portion of which extends laterally of the handles from the other end of the inner side frame member and provides a rear end frame member, and a third portion of which extends forwardly from the rear end frame member and provides an outer side frame member, the handle of each frame member extending forwardly from the forward end of its associated outer side frame member and in a direction generally endwise of the frame, a. front frame member is connected to at least one of the handles and extends laterally of the handles in the general plane of the frames in spaced relation forwardly from the open ends of the frames for a sufficient distance for accommodating the game front teeth between said open ends and said front frame member when the side teeth are within the frames in spaced relation to the inner and outer frame members.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein a bib of thin, flexible, soft, open mesh, light weight gauze is provided and is supported at one margin by the said frames and at the other margin by the forward frame member so as to bridge the space between the forward ends of the frames and said forward frame member.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the bib has a transversely flexible tube connected to, and extending along, one margin of the gauze, and the ends of the tube are received on the free ends of the frame for supporting said one margin of the bib.

4. The structure according to claim 2 wherein a bib 15 2,776,486

is mounted on one of the frames and bridges the space between the inner and outer frame members, and said bibs are arranged with their adjacent margins close to each other so that, when the bibs are mounted on the frame and front frame member, they are operable to support a mass of impression material on the bibs and which mass extends unbrokenly from one bib onto the other.

5. The structure according to claim 4 wherein said 10 adjacent margins overlap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Getz Mar. 8, 1955 Manczur Jan. 8, 1957 

